I just replaced a loose right tailight socket in my 64 Chevy. When it is
NOT inserted into the hole (not grounded) it seems to work fine--single
light for parking, directional (I can't check brake alone)....However,
when I put the new socket into the car (what should be the last
step--right?) both filaments light up in the right bulb as though the
brakes were on...??? Any ideas? It seems to work well when NOT
grounded....I am stumped. Thanks.

That would be ground theft happening.

I would first check the other bulbs, those 1157 bulbs have a sneaky way
of the glass coming loose so the filament wires behind it can cross. I
even recently had one that just plain blew and the running light
filament fell across the brake filament causing the same thing.

One like that in the front will cause the same in the back.

Then if all the bulbs check out good, I would be looking for the running
light ground. It will be a wire at the end of the harness likely. They
use a cable and the brake filament uses the fixture to ground.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
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64Chevy4Door wrote:

On Sun, 24 Sep 2006 14:22:37 -0400, Mike Romain <romainm (AT) sympatico (DOT) ca>
wrote:

I agree that there is either a bad ground or a shorted bulb that is
back feeding a ground. A clue would be the socket in your hand
liting up OK without being grounded.

Pete